Firearm for hand and automatic loading.



R. IROMMER.

FIREARM FOB HAND AND AUTOMATIC LOADING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1907.

Patented Mar.22,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. FROMMER.

FIREARM FOR HAND AND AUTOMATIC LOADING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1907.

Patented Mar. 22, 1910.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

llll lllll mm k 41am! m Elie UNITED STATES PATENT oEE1oE.

BUDOLF FBOMMER, OF BUDAPEST, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

simian]: For. mm) ANDIAUTOMATIC LOADING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUnoLr FnoMMER, manager, subject of the King ofHungary, residin at Budapest, in the Empire of Austria ungary, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms for Hand andAutomatic Loading, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to a firearm which can be converted by a singlehandle from a hand loader into an automatic loader and vice versa.

If the weapon is arranged as a hand loader, then the closing spring ofthe breech-bolt and the barrel spring are put out of action, and thebarrel adjusting lever and the handle engaged. The handle is broughtinto aposition 1n which it is easily handled when the weapon isconverted into an automatic loader, the breech-bolt and barrel springare engaged and the barrel adjusting lever and the handle put out ofengagement; the latter is also turned aside in the vertical position inwhich it does not project out of the weapon. These motions are effectedcompletely automatically and with reliable certainty by the turning of ahandle. The automatic engagement and disengagement of the handle on thealteration of the weapon is of especial importance, because whereas ahandle projecting out of the weapon is essentially necessary for a handloader,it is on the other hand required in an automatic firearm that. itshall have rojccting out of the weapon no portion oi the mechanism whichmoves during the automatic action, because the user may be injured bythe projecting part which is moving to and fro.

In the present invention the conversion from the hand loader to theautomatic loader and vice versa takes place with the greatest certainty,avoiding any springs and quite compulsorily, and safety devices are,provided which prevent the respective conversion from only taking placepartially; that is to say safety devices are provided to insure that thespecially desired conversion is eii'ected Specification of LettersPatent.

means of a short, easy and quick hand action and one moreover which canbe convenientlv carried out by theuser in any position. oreoverarrangements are made by means of which the conversion cannot take placewithout the intention of the user, that is the arrangement cannot bealtered by acci dent and the conversion only operates in a certainposition of the closing parts, that is only when the breech-bolt iscompletely closed. The present firearm is moreover provided with adevice which in combination with the convertingdevice insures that theweapon can only be discharged after a completely operated conversion. Itis especially that it is so constructed that all parts are completelyclosed, and with the exception of the cartridge opening which is exposedon tected in every direction against penetration of course be applied toall kinds of firearms. As an. example it is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings applied to a weapon .with sliding barrel.

In these drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation and partial. section.Fig. 2 is a central horizontal, section. Figs. 3 and 4 show each asection on the line IIIIV of Fi 2 in two different positions. Figs. 5 an6 show each a section on the line VVI of Fig. 2 in two differentpositions. Figs. 7 and 8 show each arear view of the weapon in twodifferent positions.

two cavities 2, 3 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6). The handle 4 is. connected with ahandle rod '5 displaceable in the direction of the barrel, which rod isprovided at its rear end with a projection 6; this projection can beoscillated in the cavity 2 of the breech-bolt (Figs. 2 and 5) and can beturned out of the same .(Fig. 6). Obviously the cavity might also beformed in the rod and a tooth arranged upon the breech-bolt to come intoengagement with this cavity. The rod 5 is rovided at its rear end with abolt 7 which 1s contained in a boring of the rear wall 8 of thebreech-bolt. The bar 10 operated by the closing spring 9 is provided atits rear end with a square end 11, upon which is placed a segment 12secured by means of a nut 13. The segment 12 can be turned bycorrespondin turning of the bar 10 into the cavity 3 of t e breech-bolt(Fig. 6) or out Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

Application filed November 5, 1907. Serial No. 400,814.

to'be noticed in connection with this firearm "7 5 the actuation, theweapon is completely proof dust and impurities. The invention can Thebreech bolt 1 possesses at its rear part I of the same as shown in Figs.2 and 5. In this case also the projecting part might be placed on thebreech-bolt and the corresponding cavity formed the bar. The rod 5 andthe bar 10 fit revolubly and movably in respective borings 14 and 15arranged parallel with the barrel of the Weapon.

At the front part of the handle rod 5 are provided teeth 16 (Figs. 2, 3and 4) with which the teeth 17 of a bell-crank 19 revolving on a pivot18 can engage; said bellcrank causes a simultaneous rotation of thehandle rod 5 and the drawbar 10. For this purpose the bell-crank 19 isprovided with a tooth 20 upon the side lying opposite the teeth 17 whichtooth engages in a cavity 21 of the bar 10. Through this connection thehandle rod and the drawbar are so coupled that whenever the one isturned the other will also be turned in the corresponding direction.

Obviously in place of the above described connection any other mechanismcan be employed which so connects the bars 5 and 10 together, that onthe turning of the one bar the other is correspondingly revolved. If thehandle 4 be turned down so that it rests against the weapon, as shown inFigs. 3, 6 and 8 in which the handle is only indicated by an arrow, thenthe projection 6 of the handle rod will be turned out of the cavity 2 ofthe breech-bolt and the latter will be out of engagement with the handlerod and with the handle 4. The breech-bolt can therefore move to and froin the weapon without moving with it the handle 4 which remains in itsposition of rest. Through the above described downward motion of thehandle thereis nevertheless also the bell-crank 19 moved by means of theteeth 16, 17, whereby the tooth 20 engaging the cavity 21 also turns thebar 10 and so that the segment 12 arranged on the square end of thedrawbar turns into the cavity 3 of the breech-bolt. Consequently on therelease of the projection 6 the handle rod is brought out of the cavity2 of the breech-bolt and at the same time the segment 12 of the drawbaris brought into engagement with the breech-bolt. On the repetition ofthe motion in the opposite direction the actuation of the above artstakes place likewise in the opposite direction. The bell-crank 19engages when in the. position shown in Fig. 3 in a cavity 22 of thebarrel 23 (Fig. 2) whereby the barrelis held fast. On the shifting ofthe handle into the position shown in Fig. 3, the bell-crank 19 isturned out of the cavity of the barrel and the barrel is released. Thisarrangement for the holding fast and liberating of the barrelis'obviously only necessary in weapons with sliding barrel. If theinvention is applied to weapons with a fixed barrel, then thls devicebecomes unnecessary.

As may be seen from the foregoing, in the position shown in Figs. 3 and5 the handle rod is connected with the breech-bolt (the projection 6engaging in the cavity 2) the drawbar with the closing sprmg 1Sdisconnected from the breech-bolt (segment 12 being out of engagementwith the cavity 3) and the barrel is held fast (lever 19 engaging in thecavity In this case the handle 4 is in the horizontal positionprojecting out of the barrel casing, and the weapon can then be used asa hand loader. In the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6 on the other handthe handle rod is disconnected from the breech-bolt, the drawbar withclosing spring is connected with the breech-bolt and the barrel isreleased, while the handle is turned down. The weapon is in thisposition a self-loader. The character of the weapon can at once herecognized by the position of the handle 4.

The reconversion of the weapon is effected equally simply either byturning the handle rod or the drawbar about their longitudinal axes. Inorder to be able to effect this turning not by means of the handle 4,but as easily and conveniently as possible with a single grip, there isprovided a turning piece 24 in the prolongation of the drawbar 10 (Figs.1, 2, 5 and 6) which by means of a square end 25 (Figs. 7 and 8) isfirmly connected with the part 26. On the part 26 there is movable underaction of the spring 27 a locking piece '28, having a tooth 29; thelatter is pressed into the recesses 30 or 31 of the barrel casingaccording to the position of the piece 26, whereby the piece 26 and thepart 24 connected with it are held fast in their positions. The part 24is also used as a key for operating the conversion system, because itengages the segment 12 arranged upon the square end 11 and also thesafety nut 13, so that by turning the converter 24 by aid of the piece26, the rod 10 is turned and consequently the whole conversion system isactuated. In order to be able freely to turn backward the drawbar 10with segment 12 and nut 13 on the automatic operation of the weapon, theconverter 24 is slotted longitudinally so that the segment 12 projectsthrough this slot out of the piece 24 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. For thepurpose of converting the weapon it is consequently only necessary toraise the lockin piece 28 against the action of the spring 2% out of itscavity, to revolve the piece 26 and to allow the locking piece to springback into the other cavity. Through the locking piece 28 the position ofthe bar 26 is locked in both terminal positions and the same can only bealtered by the user and in the manner indicated.

In self-loaders the breech-bolt remains open after using up the lastcartrid es. In

this condition the drawbar 10 is p aced in 1 emcee the backward positionand consequently out of enga ement with the bell-crank 19, whereby theocking'gof the bar 5 would be removed. In order in this case also tosecure a locking of the bar 5 there is placed in front of the bar 10 alocking sleeve 33 under the influence of the spring 32"and displaceablein the casing 37. This locking sleeve possesses a cavity 34. The iece 33is pushed back when thebar is pusii ward by means of a projection 36 onthe bar against the action of the spring 32. As sooii, however, as thedrawbarrecedes, the part 33 is liberated and is again pushed out of itscasing by thespring 32, so that the notch 34 engages-with a rojection 35of the lever 19, whereby the ever and together with it the handle rod isheld fast even when the drawbar is retracted. As soon as the drawbaragain moves forward this hold is released by the excess 7 of pressure ofthe spring 9 over the spring 32, and then again taken over by thedrawbar or 'by the locking piece 28. The prolongation 36 of the bar 10serves at the same time for the fixing of the lever 19 in the positionas hand loader, because the inner ed e of this projection rests againstthe ever (Figs. 2 and 3).

The part 26 is provided with a segment 38, which when theweapon iscocked enages with a groove 39 on the firing bolt 40.

he oove 39 is so placed on the firing bolt that ln the cocked positionof the firing bolt it lies in the lane of the segment 38. The archedpart oi the'segment is so,fitted that it only projects out of the groove39 when the piece 26 is in the terminal positions (Figs. 7

I and 8) By this means the cocked firing bolt is held fast by thesegment 38 until the piece 26 reaches one of its terminal -positions,'so

that the firing bolt can only strike when the conversion either to ahand loader or an automatic loade fected, because herwise the se ent 38remains in the grobve39 of the firing bolt and prevents it fromstriking. The segment 38 consequently forms a safety device so that theweapon can bnly then be discharged,

when the'conver'sion in either sense-hasbeen .fully efl'ected. Thesegment'38 has the further object to draw back the firing bolt a littleduring the conversion, in order to relieve the operating arran ementfrom the prestion between its two end positions, and that.

by a second mistake thetri er was actuated, then of course the earth gecannot be ed forhas been completely ef-- discharged because the segment38 is still in the slot of the firing bolt. nevertheless be brought outof the range of the firing bolt, and when the trigger is again releasedI would not again arrive with certainty before the stop ofthe firingbolt, because the firing bolt is pressed forward a little by thepressure of Its spring, so that the sear remains standing below the stopof the firing bolt without holding the bolt fast; the latter will beconsequently retained only by means of the segment 38. If the weapon inthis position be entirely converted, then the discharge will take place.In order to prevent this the segment 38 is so arranged that by theintroduction thereof in the slot 39 the firing bolt is drawn back alittle so that the sear is released from the pressure of the firing boltand in the case of an action as above described can return withcertainty after release of the trigger again to the fast holdingposition. For this purpose the segment is provided at both ends withsloping arts 44 so that the segment holds back a little the firing boltthrough the wedge action of the slopes.

In order, as originally stated, that the conversion can only take placewhen the breech-bolt is fully closed, there is formed in the converter24 a longitudinal groove 41, (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) in which a tooth 42 ofthe breech-bolt engages. Obviously the tooth might be upon the converterand the groove be formed on the breech-bolt. The longitudinal groove 41is only interrupted by means of a cross groove 43 (Fig. 2) at the pointwhere the tooth 42 fits when the breech-bolt is closed. Consequentlyonly in this position can the converter 24 be turned for the purpose ofconverting the weapon, because then the tooth 42 can travel along thecross groove 43; in all other positions conversion is impossible becausethe converter cannot be revolved on account of the tooth 42 being heldin the longitudinal groove 41. This relates of course to theconvertibility of the weapon when it is used as a hand loader. \Vhen itis'used for automatic loading there are only two' ossible positions forthe breech-bolt, name y, it must be either entirely closed or inthe caseof an empty magazine entirely open. impossible because the drawbar 10and its cavity are in their rearmost position and consequentl out ofengagement with the tooth 20 o the adjusting lever. If, however, thebreech-bolt isentirely closed, the conversion as already stated can beeffected without difliculty.

I claim- The sear will In the latter case the conversion is l. Afire-arm for hand and automatic 7 loading comprising in combination-withthe breech-bolt a handle and a closing spring at will, the arrangementbeing such that upon the engagement of the closing spring with thebreech-bolt the disengagement of the handle with the breech-bolt ispositively effected, and vice versa.

2. A fire-arm for hand and automatic loading, comprising in combinationwith the breech-bolt a handle and a closing spring, a movable rodcarryin said handle, a movable bar connected with said closing spring,the said rod and bar both being adapted to be alternately engaged with,and disengaged from said breech-bolt at will.

3. A fire-arm for hand and automatic loading com rising in combinationwith a breech-bolt aving two cavities. a closing sprin and a handle, arevoluble bar connected with said closing s ring and provided with aprojection a apted to enter one of said cavities'in said breech-bolt anda revoluble rod carrying the handle and provided with. a rojectionadapted to entertheother cavity in said breech-bolt, hereby thesaidmovable bar and rod arealternately engaged with, and disengaged from thesaid breech-bolt at will.

4. A fire-arm for hand and automatic loading, comprising in combinationwith a breech-bolt a closing spring and a handle, a revoluble barconnected with the said closing spring, a revoluble rod, carrying saidhandle, the said bar and rod both bein adapted to be alternately enga edwith, an disengaged from the said breefii-bolt at will and meansconnecting the said bar and rod. in such a manner, that upon turning theone also the other is turned.

5. A fire arm for hand and automatic loading, comprising in combinationwith a breech bolt a closing spring and a handle, a movable barconnected with said closing spring, a movable rod carrying said handle,both the said bar and rod bein adapted to be alternately engaged with,and disengaged from the breech-bolt at will, and a bellcrank both inengagement with the said bar and rod in such a manner that upon engagingthe said bar with the said breech-bolt the disengagement of the said rodwith the breech-bolt is effected, and vice versa.

6. A fire-arm for hand .andautomatic loading comprising in combinationwith a sliding. barrel and breech-bolt a closing I spring, and a handle,a revoluble member connected with said closing spring, a revolublemember carrying said handle, both said members being adapted to bealternatel en a ed with, and disengaged from said reec olt at will, abell-crank operatively connecting said members so that upon theengagement of one of said members with the breech-bolt the other memberwill be disengaged therefrom, and means on said bell-crank adapted uponthe turning of the said bell-crank in one direction to engage the saidbarrel, thereby locking the same in its position, and to release thesaidbarrel upon the turning of the said bell-crank in the other direction.

7. A fire arm for hand and automatic loading comprising in combinationwith a sliding barrel and breech-bolt a clos' spring, a handle, amovable bar connecte with said closing s ring, a movable rod carryingsaid hand e, a bell-crank operatively connected with both the said barand rod, so that upon turning the bar also the rod will be turned, andvice versa, means on said crank-lever adapted to engage with the slidingbarrel and lock the same in position, a locking member for the saidcrank-lever,

and a projection on the said bar adapted to hold the said lockin memberout of engagement withthe said ll-crank when the said bar is pushedforward and to release the said locking member to engage with the saidbellcrank upon the return movement of the said bar.

8. A- fire-arm for hand ,and automatic loading comprising in combinationwith a barrel and a breech-bolt a closing s ring, and a handle, amovable bar connecte with said closing spring, a movable rod carryingsaid handle, both the said bar and rod being adapted to be alternatelenga ed with, and disengaged from the sai breec -bolt at will, meansoperatively connecting the said bar and rod to move one upon themovement of the other and a converter ada ted to be connected with thesaid bar at wi l for the purpose of turning the same in one or the otherdirection.

9. A fire-arm for hand and automatic loading comprisin in combinationwith the barrel and breecholt a closing spring and a handle, a movablebar connected with said closing spring, and a movable rod carrying saidhandle, a means operatively connecting the said movable bar and rod,whereby one is turned upon the operation of the other, a projection onthe said movable bar, and a converter having a longitudinal slot toreceive said projection and adapted to be coupled with the said movablebar to turn the same in one or the other direction.

10. A fire-arm for hand and automatic loading comprising in combinationwith the barrel and breech-bolt, a closing spring, a handle, a movablebar connected with said closing spring, a movable rod, carrying saidhandle, means operatively connecting the said bar and rod and aconverter adapted to be coupled with said movable bar and provided witha oove, a projection on said breech bolt, a apted to engage the saidgroove, and a cross groove located at the oint where the said rojectionfits when the reechbolt is close thus; permitting the turning of thesaid converter only in this position of the said projection.

11. A fire-arm for hand and automatic loading comprising in combinationwith the barrel and the breech-bolt a closing spring and a handle, amovable bar connected with said closing spring, a movable rod carryingsaid handle, means operatively connecting the said bar and rod, means onsaid bar and said rod to effect their alternative engagement with anddisengagement from the said breech bolt, a converter adapted to becoupled with said -movable bar and provided with a groove, a projectionon said breechbolt adapted to enter the said groove, a cross groovelocated at the point where the said projection fits when the saidbreech-bolt is closed, thus permitting the turning of the said converteronly in this position of the said projection, a" firing bolt, a thumbpiece connected with said converter and having a segment ada ted toenter a groove in the said firing bot to hold it in its retractedposition until the conversion of the fire-arm from a hand to anautomatic loader is completed.

12. A fire-arm for hand and automatic loading comprising in combinationwith the barrel and the breech-bolt a closing spring and a handle, amovable bar connected with said-closing spring and a movable rodcarrying saidhandle, means for operatively connecting said movable barand rod to effect their alternate engagement with and disengagement fromthe said breech-bolt, a converter adapted to be coupled with saidmovable bar, a firing bolt, a spring surrounding said firing bolt, athumb piece on said converter 'provided with a segment adaptedto enter agroove in the said firing bolt and of such a shape as to slightlydrawback the said firing bolt upon entering the groove therein to releasethe said spring-surrounding the said firing bolt.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLF FROMMER. Witnesses i SILSON FRUOFF,

LESLIE LESLIE.

